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Battery H and the Light Brigade Compared. 

Published by the author because of his inability to 
otherwise reach the public. 



Battery H, First Rhode Island Liglit Artillery, in the fight 

For the cause of the Union, freedom and right, 

April 2d, 1865, before Petersburg, 

Did a heroic act of which few have heard. 

The charge of the 8ix Hundred, Light Brigade, 

Is often spoken of as the grandest charge ever made. 

That is, grandest up to date — in the Old World, 

The charges for and against the l^nion were not then hurled — 

Hurled at the enemy with a force and desperate rniglit, 

A might against the works of the enemy in many a fight. 

The cliarge of the .Six Hundred accomplished no good. 

While the work of Battery H saved our commanders where they 

stood — 
Stood mid the dangers of the day, 
A day memorable for tiie way. 

The way that Rhode Island batteries had of doing noble things, 
Noble things that the sacrifice for humanity brings. 
The charge of the Six Hundred accomplisiied no good, 
In the charge of the Light Brigade some one blundered — as was 

understood. 



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Whether bkmder or intent, 

The Light Brigade on its terrible mission went, 

Sent by some order. How and why? To tliis day 

To the question why there is nothing to say. 

Yet it showed action wortiiy of our brothers brave. 

Obedience to orders! Noble, though it sent many to the grave. 

April 2d, 1865, Battery II was with the Artillery Brigade 

Of tlie Sixth Corps. A charge was being made — 

Made on the Confederate lines so strong, but the Union force was 

not afraid. 
In the meanwhile Grant and Meade and their staffs stayed 
For a short time in a protected place that nature made — 
Made by low ground and trees, where we were supposed to be out of 

the enemy's sight. 
To the right the field was open, and there the fight. 
Minnie balls were flying quite thick, and filled the air; 
A few shells, too, but for them we had little care. 
One took off a shoe of our Sergeant's horse, 
But that was of no great importance— no great loss. 
It only showed that the enemy was alert 

When his shells landed so near as to fill the air with flying dirt. 
But soon came shells from somewhere beyond the wood; 
They were from a Confederate light batterj' that was doing all it 

could 
To discomfort our Generals and their aids. 

So came out into the field, backed by their own fort's cannonade. 
Their action was a surprise — on mischief they were bent. 
But soon towards them, by orders. Battery H went. 
By request of Capt. Crawford Allen, his company brave, 
Went into a most trying position, though it might prove their grave. 
Thus it was this day that Battery H into action was ordered, the 

enemy's design to defeat. 
And, in order this movement to complete. 
Up a narrow lane, commanded by a large fort. 
It made its way, and on the open field tlie enemj' sought. 
Into a gallop the horses were driven with speed. 
To the cannoneers on foot there was little heed. 
So when the guns were in position for the fight 
The cannoneers were no more than in sight. 
So the drivers dismounted and served the guns. 
The while towards the battery the cannoner runs, 
Lieut. Horton came on his flying charger towards the rear. 
H« waved his sword and swore — yes, swore, for lie did fear 
That much, if not all, depended on their might 
To save the day in the terrible fight, 
A fight against strong forts and light battery, too. 



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But tliese cannoneers were strong men and true — 

True to the cause for whicli tliey had enHsted and served so well, 

A cause and action on whicli we delight to dwell. 

Its guns on the light battery were turned, 

The shot and shell from the forts they spurned. 

The guns from these forts were aimed too high, 

So over our heads their fierce missies did fly. 

From the Wilderness to Appomattox, that with the world's battles 

do rank. 
Grant ever moved by the left flank. 
Why? We know not, yet see how this action so free 
Does with the old prophecy agree: 

"A thousand shall fallbesidethee, and ten thousand at thy right hand, 
But it shall not come nigh thee, by God's command." 
Thus it was all through these fierce campaigns — 
Campaigns of 18()4-5, where tlie protection reigns. 
The noise that their shells created as they whizzed through the air 
Was terrific, but did not the old soldier scare. 
The minnie balls filled the air, too, 
And a most pleasant sound they made as they flew; 
Shot and shell, minnie balls, and sharpshooters as well, 
Filled the air with these missies of hell. 
The Confederate battery limbers to the front and flies. 
But ere the vibration of their last charge dies 
Battery H, too, was limbered up and after them did speed. 
The terrible roar of the forts it did not heed. 
After a run of about a mile. 
The forts in succession the while 
Hurling at Battery H their missies of death — 
Our haste was such that we were nearly out of breath — 
The Confederate battery takes up position number two, 
W^e were again soon in action with gunners true. 
Fortunate were we, in that fight so well done. 
To have the brave Lieut. Horton to sight our left section gun. 
The guns at the next fort did roar when we came within their range, 
But only with the light battery did we shots exchange. 
After awhile they again limbered to the front, and o'er the field flew, 
To take up some new position that they thought would do. 
But their second position, so well supported by forts in the rear, 
Was to them no better than their first— to them so dear. 
Their third no better for them than their second, 
On the strength and power of Battery H they had not reckoned. - 
To the fourth position they flew. 
Then our bugle blew — 
Blew the call to advance at full speed, 
And well our noble horses kept the lead. 



A lead — on and on — nearer and nearer the Run's bed, 

And nearer and nearer into the jaws of the dragon so dread. 

But no dread or fear was in our liearts. 

AVe were figliting for the Union and all its jmrts, 

For the Union as a whole and for its parts as well, 

For this we were undaunted and flew into the very jaws of hell. 

The fourth position we were now in, 

In a peach orchard, where the ground was soft and crust thin. 

So ere long piece number three in this soil wore a deep cut 

Up to the hub in a hole. 80 deep was the rut 

That piece number three 

We could not, even with great exertion, free. 

" By hand to the front, out of this hole so deep;" 

But it was of no use, number three in action no longer could keep. 

And of all the events of the fight this soft ground 

Was the greatest drawback that we on this day found. 

Up to this time no support had we, 

No supporting infantry could we see. 

But now the First Division of the Sixth Corps, and sharpshooters, too, 

Hurried to our support and prevented any counter move that the 

enemy might do. 
But on account of that deep rut 
Piece number three was out of action shut; 
Of all the guns it suffered most. 
A solid shot from the opposing host 
Killed number one— Thomas Carter — tore him in two. 
And o'er number three his blood flew. 
So on that day, with its bloody ire, 
Number three was baptized in blood and fire. 
Other casualties, of horses and men, 
Came to us there and then. 
But this was the most dramatic of all. 
Yet it was strange how in such fierce strife so few did fall. 
By what power were we sliielded from liarm? 
By tiie same power that in all these hours kept us so calm. 
The enemy's sharpshooters were evidently at work. 
And to do us injury did not shirk. 
Along our guns the minnie balls rattle. 
And the huge guns kept up the ding of battle. 
Now on us the enemy got a cross fire. 
From within their line, to the left, with ire. 
With ire we returned tiieir new fire. 
A siiell burst over our head, 

All on number four were down — down — our thought so dread; 
But only down, not dead. 

A fifth wheel it shattered — that's all from this shell, 
A sliell that at first seemed a danger spell. 



" Limber to the front, and to the rear!" 

Came the voice of tlie Captain, lond and clear. 

Then we retired, or better, fell back — 

Back to a friendly hollow, out of their track. 

From a protected hollow we advanced to the fight, 

At its end we a new hollow sought, where we were out of sight. 

We had done all we could — no more was in our power. 

We drove that battery back hour by hour, 

We drove them into their camp across the Run, 

And now our fight was done. 

So there was no humiliation about failing back. 

Where we did rest, our coffee make and eat our hard tack. 

At Burkcsville, after the surrender day. 

Some members of this battery came (jur way. 

By conversation we soon found out 

That they were members of the battery that we did route. 

Our action on that day was to them a great surprise, 

A surprise tliat was revealed in their eyes. 

"How came you to enter such a place? 

Were you drunk or crazy? What forced you into such a race?" 

"Not drunk or crazy," was the reply of one of our men, 

"As you see us now so were we then." 

I don't know what others about this would say, 

But to us it was high compliment for our action that day. 

When we went into action the sun 

Was on the meridian, and right above our lieads, high in the sky; 

AVhen we came out it well down in the west did lie. 

Talk and write about the charge of the Light Brigade! 

It was grand — grand as we have said. 

But was it iwt a grander sight, 

And more noble for a cause that was right, 

Than that running fight on April 2d, 1865, 

Done by Battery H — so tried? 

There is no vain boast for what we have said, 

No vain applause for us to bid. 

Other batteries did noble service, too. 

The occasion to us came, and to it we were "simply true" — 

True to the Union — to the many and the few, 

True to the flag of varied hue. 

True to all that is represented by the Red, White and Blue ! 

ISAAC P:-NOYES, 

No. 3 on 3d Piece. 

June 30th, 1906. 



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